Structural Relationships between Learning Emotion and Knowledge Organization and Management Processes in Distance Learning Environments: "An Applied Study".

The widespread adoption and expansion of distance learning necessitates the consideration of issues related to learning passion, which is the strong desire of learners towards a specific activity of high value and meaning that enables the use of relevant cognitive and behavioral strategies to acquire, store, apply, share, use, absorb, and create knowledge. The current study aimed to measure learners' practices of learning emotion processes, knowledge management, and organization in distance learning environments using tangible indicators. The study utilized a descriptive correlational approach to identify the effects of the study variables, including learning emotion (harmonious passion-emotional obsession), on knowledge management through the mediating role of self-regulation in distance learning environments. The results show that learners' practices of learning emotion processes, knowledge management, and organization in distance learning environments were higher than average, and there was a significant correlation between emotion, self-regulation, and knowledge management. Additionally, learning emotion (harmonious passion and emotional obsession) had a statistically significant effect on self-organization processes and knowledge management. Structural equation modeling analysis confirmed the validity of the proposed path model, indicating that self-regulation plays a crucial role in mediating the relationship between emotion and knowledge management in distance learning environments.

Influence of the addition of different metal oxides on physicochemical and biological properties of calcium fluorosilicate/PCL bone cement.

Calcium silicate cements have been greatly developed in the last decades through different approaches. Among these approaches, the inclusion of antibacterial agents or addition of metal oxides. Herein, calcium silicate cement containing fluorine (CFS) was developed from sodium fluorosilicate precursor for the first time using chemical perception method. Afterwards, metal oxide Bi2O3 or MgO or ZrO2 was individually mixed with CFS powder and blended together using Polycaprolactone polymer (PCL). The cement mixtures were characterized using DSC, XRD, FTIR and SEM/EDX to determine the effect of metal oxide on the pure CFS. Furthermore, mechanical, antibacterial and cell viability properties were evaluated for the developed CFS mixture cements. Moreover, these CFS mixture cements were implanted in male Wistar rats to determine the effect of metal oxides on the rate of bone reformation. The findings of physicochemical and morphological characterization showed no remarkable effects on the pure CFS after mixing with each metal oxide. However, enhanced compressive strengths (up to 104.07N/cm2), antibacterial activity and cell viability (up to 96%) were achieved for the CFS cement mixtures. Finally, the in vivo studies confirmed the biocompatibility of the CFS cement mixtures and especially those mixed with Bi2O3 or ZrO2. Therefore, this study supports that CFS blends with Bi2O3 or ZrO2 can be novel promising cementing materials for bone restoration.

Radiation synthesis and in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial property of functionalized nanopolymer-based poly (propargyl alcohol) against multidrug-resistance microbes.

Pathogenic microorganisms are responsible for many diseases in biological organisms, including humans. Many of these infections thrive in hospitals, where people are treated with medicines and certain bacteria resist those treatments. Consequently, this research article aims to develop efficient antimicrobial material-based conjugated and functionalized polypropargyl alcohol nanoparticles (nano-PGA) synthesized by gamma irradiation. The monomer of PGA was polymerized in various mediums (water (W), chloroform (Ch), and dimethylformamide (DMF)) without catalysts under the action of γ-rays, producing π-conjugated and colored functional nano-PGA polymers. Nano-PGA is a versatile polymer demonstrated here as suitable for creating next-generation of antimicrobial systems capable of effectively preventing and killing various pathogenic microorganisms. The novelty here is the development of polymeric nanostructures by changing the solvent and irradiation doses. The antimicrobial property of nano-PGA (nanostare-like antibody structure) was examined against different pathogenic bacteria and unicellular fungi. Nano-PGA-DMF exhibits significant antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (20.20 mm; zone of inhibition (ZOI), and 0.47 µg/mL; minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), followed by Escherichia coli (E. coli) (14.50 mm; ZOI, and 1.87 µg/mL; MIC, and Candida albicans (C.albicans) (12.50 mm; ZOI, and 1.87 µg/mL; MIC). In antibiofilm results, the highest inhibition percentage of the synthesized nano-PGA-W, nano-PGA-Ch, and nano-PGA-DMF was documented for S. aureus (17.01%, 37.57%, and 80.27%), followed by E. coli (25.68%, 55.16% and 78.11%), and C.albicans (40.10%, 62.65%, and 76.19%), respectively. The amount of bacterial protein removed is directly proportional after increasing the concentration of nano-PGA-W, nano-PGA-Ch, and nano-PGA-DMF samples (at different concentrations) and counted to be 70.58, 102.89, and 200.87 µg/mL, respectively following the treatment with 1.0 mg/mL of each sample. It was found that the nano-PGA polymer prepared in DMF has better antimicrobial activity than one prepared in chloroform than in water.

Study of Ag Nanoparticles in a Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Dosimeters by Optical Technique.

The dosimetric characteristics of hydrogel dosimeters based on polyacrylamide (PAC) as a capping agent incorporating silver nitrate as a radiation-sensitive material are investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry within the dose range 0-100 Gy. Glycerol was used in the hydrogel matrix to promote the dosimetric response and increase the radiation sensitivity. Upon exposing the PAC hydrogel to γ-ray, it exhibits a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) band at 453 nm, and its intensity increases linearly with absorbed doses up to 100 Gy. The results are compared with the silver nitrate gel dosimeter. Glycerol of 15% in the hydrogel matrix enhances the radiation sensitivity by about 30%. PAC hydrogel dosimeter can be considered a near water equivalent material in the 400 keV-20 MeV photon energy range. At doses less than 15 Gy, the PAC hydrogel dosimeter retains higher radiation sensitivity than the gel dosimeter. The total uncertainty (2σ) of the dose estimated using this hydrogel is about 4%. These results may support the validity of using this hydrogel as a dosimeter to verify radiotherapy techniques and dose monitoring during blood irradiation.

Neonatal coning secondary to hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: A case study and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Brain herniation is an extremely rare complication of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) in the neonatal period with only a single report described. We report a 2-day-old term infant with severe HIE, who developed diffuse brain oedema and herniation. CASE PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION: A term female infant delivered by vacuum, required therapeutic hypothermia for severe encephalopathy. At 36 hours of age, a marked change in neurological status was noted with signs of brainstem involvement. A head Computed Tomography Scan showed uncal and tonsillar herniation. CONCLUSION: Vigilance in monitoring neonatal neurological status during therapeutic hypothermia is imperative for early brain herniation detection.

Neonatal transport services, a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To understand the process and challenges facing neonatal transport in Canada and to delineate their composition and working.Subjects and methodology: An online questionnaire was sent to all neonatal transport team directors/coordinators in Canada. The questionnaire covered different aspects of transport and was pilot tested prior to finalization. The responses were anonymous to the investigators.Results: All sixteen neonatal transport teams in Canada surveyed. Fifteen teams responded. Dedicated team as a model was adopted by 12 teams (80%). A combined Neonatal/pediatrics team, where the team could be assembled by either neonatal or pediatrics intensive care staff, adopted by two (13%). Team members were cross-trained in about quarter of the teams (four teams out of 15) with respiratory therapists and registered nurses performing each other's roles. Neonatal Resuscitation Program was mandatory for all teams that responded (15 teams) to become certified as a neonatal transport team member. Nine teams use a central dispatch phone call system.Conclusion: As the first to comprehensively describe the status of neonatal transport in Canada, our study shows that neonatal transport teams have similarities as well as differences. Regionalization and differences in referral practices, geography, provincial laws, and manpower are the main reasons why teams may have their individual variations in policies, protocols, and logistics. Our data can be utilized by health professionals and policy makers to improve neonatal transport logistics within their health care systems resulting in better outcomes of transported neonates.

A comparative dosimetry study of an alanine dosimeter with a PTW PinPoint chamber at ultra-high dose rates of synchrotron radiation.

The use of synchrotron X-ray sources provides innovative approaches in radiation therapy. The unique possibility to generate quasi-parallel beams promoted the development of microbeam radiation therapy (MRT), an innovative approach able to reduce damages to normal tissues while delivering considerable doses in the lesion. Accurate dosimetry in broad-beam configuration (prior to the spatial fractionation of the incident X-ray fan) is very challenging at ultra-high dose rate synchrotron sources. The available reference dosimetry protocol based on the use of a PTW PinPoint ionization chamber was compared with alanine dosimetry at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) ID17 Biomedical beamline, an orthovoltage X-ray source with an average dose rate of 11.6 kGy/s. Reference dose measurements of the alanine pellets were performed at the National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT) 60Co facility in Egypt. All alanine dosimeters were analysed by an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer. We determined a relative response rESRF = 0.932 ± 0.027 (1σ) of the alanine pellets irradiated at the ESRF compared to the 60Co facility. Considering the appropriate corrections for the ESRF polychromatic spectrum and the different field size used, our result is in agreement with the previous work of Waldeland et al. for which the utilised alanine contained the same amount of binder, and it is consistent with the works of Anton et al. and Butler et al. for which the utilised alanine contained a higher amount of binder. We confirm that alanine is an appropriate dosimeter for ultra-high dose rate calibration of orthovoltage X-ray sources.

Respiratory outcomes of late preterm infants of mothers with early and late onset preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of early and late onset preeclampsia (EOPE, LOPE, respectively) on outcomes of late preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study of late preterm infants admitted to a tertiary care NICU from January 2014-July 2015. Outcomes of late preterm infants of EOPE mothers were compared with the next late preterm infant of a LOPE mother and the next two late preterm infants of normotensive non-PE mothers. Primary outcome comprised use of continuous positive airway pressure, mechanical ventilation and/or surfactant in the 24 h after birth. RESULTS: Compared to normotensives (n = 131), adjusted odds ratio (AORs) of the primary outcome was higher in the EOPE (n = 64) and LOPE (n = 65) groups but reached statistical significance only in the EOPE group, AORs 12.9, 95% CI 3.5-37 and 2.7, 95% CI 0.95-8.1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to late preterm infants of normotensive and LOPE mothers, infants of mothers with EOPE have significantly higher respiratory morbidity.

A new EPR dosimeter based on glutamic acid for radiation processing application.

L-Glutamic acid (L-GA) pellets (3.8 mm × 4 mm) and powder dosimeters were studied in the dose range of 0.1-150 kGy using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The EPR spectra of irradiated L-GA pellets showed an EPR signal with eight lines, and the intensity of the signal increased with an increase of absorbed dose. The results obtained in terms of the energy-absorption coefficients suggest a similar performance of the L-GA pellets as compared to alanine pellets. The value of the temperature coefficient for the L-GA pellets during irradiation was around - 0.08%/°C which is lower than that reported for alanine dosimeter, 0.14%/°C. The influence of humidity on the pellet response was found to be negligible; i.e., the increase in response was only about 2% for a relative humidity of up to 94%. The response of L-GA powder reached stability 4 h after irradiation and continued to be stable until 47 days after irradiation. In contrast, the response of the L-GA pellet dosimeter reached stability 22 h after irradiation and continued to be stable until 8 days after irradiation. For routine applications, the L-GA pellet dosimeter should be analyzed during the stable period after irradiation, to minimize the uncertainties in dose assessment. The overall two-sigma uncertainties in absorbed dose estimation were 5.1% and 3.9% for the dose ranges of 0.1-15 kGy and 15-150 kGy, respectively. It is concluded that L-GA pellets represent a promising dosimeter material for quantification of radiation doses in food irradiation, medical sterilization and polymer modification.

Evaluations of N-(Isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide gel dosimeter by NMR technique for radiotherapy and uncertainty in dose measurements.

N-(Isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide (NIBMA) monomer in gelatin, named NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter, was prepared and investigated by nuclear magnetic imaging (NMR) for radiotherapy in the dose range of 0-30 Gy. NIBMA monomer polymerizes upon irradiation, increasing spin-spin relaxation rate R2. The addition of glycerol as a co-solvent in the gel matrix improved its radiation sensitivity better than the co-solvents of acetone and methanol. The increase of glycerol content by 1% wt/wt enhanced the sensitivity by ˜ 3.1%. This gel has better radiation sensitivity as compared to the polyacrylamide gel (PAG) dosimeter; the sensitivities of NIBMAGAT gel and normoxic polyacrylamide gel (nPAG) are ≈0.13 and ≈0.1 s-1.Gy-1, respectively. By comparing NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter with PAG, nMAG and nPAG gel dosimeters, NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter is less influenced by scanning temperature than the last three dosimeters. The gel is water equivalent and has an energy-independent response from 80 keV to 20 MeV. The overall uncertainty of dose measurement using NIBMAGAT gel is 5.46% at 2σ. Our findings suggest the applicability of using NIBMAGAT gel dosimeter by NMR technique for dose verification/planning in the practice of clinical radiotherapy.

Pergascript orange-based polymeric solution as a dosimeter for radiotherapy dosimetric validation.

A radiation colour former amino fluoran dye, Pergascript Orange (PGO), in a polyvinyl butyral solution containing a colour developer, hexachloroethane (HCE), was prepared and investigated for radiotherapy dosimetry of 60Co, 6 MV and 15 MV photons. PGO, a colourless dye, reacts with the acid produced upon radiation exposure of HCE, enabling the lactone ring to open and the orange colour of PGO to develop. The ring opening of PGO was confirmed by the appearance of a broad peak of OH- at 3360 cm-1, CO carboxylic peak at 1763 cm-1, and an iminium group peak at 1640 cm-1. The dose response of all prepared compositions was linear in the dose range of 1-20 Gy. Increasing HCE in the dosimeter matrix from 63 mM to 106 mM enhanced the radiation sensitivity by ≈58%. The radiation sensitivity of PGO-PVB (PGO-P) dosimeter is comparable with Fricke gel and higher than N-(Isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide polymer gel dosimeters. The experimental results reveal an energy-independent response (≈1.2% variation at 1σ) in the studied range of radiotherapy beam quality from 60Co beams to the beams from Linacs with a maximum energy of 15 MeV. Based on the theoretical study, this dosimeter is water equivalent from 80 keV to 10 MeV. The overall uncertainty was found to be 4.5% at the 95% confidence level, indicating the possibility of using PGO-P dosimeter in conventional radiotherapy dose verification.

Radiochromic film containing poly(hexa-2,4-diynylene adipate) as a radiation dosimeter.

A radiation-sensitive polymer poly(hexa-2,4-diynylene adipate) (PHDA) was synthesized and incorporated into polyvinyl butyral films for radiation dose measurements in the 0.5 - 60 kGy range. PHDA undergoes crosslinking polymerization upon exposure to γ-rays, which changes its color from very pale yellow to deep orange-yellow. The color change is directly related to the absorbed dose. The absorption spectrum of the irradiated films features one absorption band around 500 nm with a shoulder around 465 nm. With increasing absorbed dose, the two bands grow in intensity and move towards higher wavelengths. The dosimeter is nearly insensitive to variations of the humidity in the range of 0-54% and temperature in the range of 30-45 °C during irradiation. The color intensifies after irradiation, both in the dark and in the light at room temperature, which reflects the continuing crosslinking polymerization. However, at - 4 °C, the color intensity does not change with time.

Role of PTPN22 1858 C/T Polymorphisms in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Egyptian Patients.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) the most common chronic arthropathy of childhood is a diverse group of chronic arthritis diseases. The protein tyrosine phosphatase N22 (PTPN22) gene exhibits regulatory activities for both T and B cells. This study aimed to study PTPN gene polymorphism in JIA. The study included 60 children with JIA and 40 age and sex matched healthy children as controls. Patients and control groups were subjected to PTPN gene polymorphism analysis. Our findings indicated a significant difference in PTPN22 polymorphism between JIA patients and the control group (P = 0.021). Different PTPN genotypes were studied in relation to patient's age, sex and relevant laboratory data. It was concluded that PTPN22 polymorphism is different in JIA patients than healthy controls. T allele is associated only in cases with JIA and it may be considered as risk allele for certain JIA subtypes.

Fricke gel dosimeter as a tool in quality assurance of the radiotherapy treatment plans.

Ferrous xylenol gel was evaluated as a dosimeter in verifications of treatment plans for treatments of female breast tumors in external-beam radiation therapy. The dosimeter was calibrated in a cubic wax phantom irradiated with 6 and 15MV beams of an Elekta clinical linear accelerator and then used for measurements of doses in an anthropomorphic phantom of a female torso, which mimicked female breasts after modified radical mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery. Doses measured with the gel in specific locations in the phantom were compared with values predicted by treatment plans created with the XiO treatment planning system (Elekta / IMPAQ) and with results of measurements with an IBA CC13 ionization chamber in the same locations. Differences between the values measured with the gel and predicted by the treatment planning system or measured with the ionization chamber were within 1.5% in most cases. In an area of as steep dose gradient, the difference reached 2.7%, which was explicable in terms of the finite size of the gel dosimeter. The dose response of the gel is dose rate and energy independent in the ranges used in most clinical linacs. The results have shown that ferrous xylenol gels can be used as dosimeters in quality assurance in radiation therapy.

Urinary exosomal microRNA panel unravels novel biomarkers for diagnosis of type 2 diabetic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: A potential approach adopted in the current study is to design a panel based on in silico retrieval of novel miRNAs related to diabetic kidney disease and to evaluate its usefulness in disease diagnosis. PATIENT AND METHODS: In the current study, we measured the differential expression of a 6 miRNA panel in urine pellet and exosome in an initial screening group using syber green-based PCR array. Also, we performed pathway enrichment analysis of the key target genes of these miRNAs. Finally, we selected the most significantly up-regulated miRNAs in DKD, exosomal miR-15b, miR-34a and miR-636, that were measured by real-time PCR in a larger independent set of 180 participants to evaluate their usefulness as novel urine biomarkers for diagnosis diabetic kidney disease. RESULTS: PCR array analysis showed that miR-15b, miR-34a, and miR-636 were upregulated in both urine pellet and exosome of type 2DKD patients. qRT-PCR validation in the larger independent set of participants confirmed the significant up-regulation of these urinary exosomal miRs (P<0.001). Notably, a positive correlation was found between these miRs, serum creatinine and urinary protein creatinine ratio. The sensitivity of this miRs based panel in urine exosomes reached 100% in diagnosis of DKD. CONCLUSION: We identified urinary exosomal miR-15b, miR-34a, and miR-636 as a novel diagnostic panel and a major contributor in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease.

Relationship between asymmetric dimethylarginine plasma level and left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular dysfunction are highly prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Several studies suggest that left ventricular mass and function is strongly modulated by the nitric oxide (NO) system. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial-based NO synthase, is emerging as an important cardiovascular risk factor in ESRD patients. Our objective is to evaluate the relationship between plasma ADMA level and LVH among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Plasma ADMA measurements by enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay and echocardiographic evaluation were performed for 40 patients on regular HD, 20 patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease, 20 hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and normal kidney function and 20 healthy age and sex-matched subjects as a control group. Residual renal function (RRF) was measured in HD patients by urea clearance from a urine collection. Mean values of plasma ADMA level were significantly high in all patient groups when compared with the control group (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between groups I, II and III as regards mean values of plasma ADMA (P >0.05) and between ADMA and RRF in HD patients (r = -0.20, P = 0.60). It was also seen that plasma ADMA was not correlated with left ventricular mass index; however, there could be an association between ADMA level and diastolic dysfunction. The plasma ADMA level was found to be high in the three studied patient groups in comparison with the control group. HD is not an effective procedure for adequate removal of ADMA.

Histopathological Association between Vascular Hypertensive Changes and Different Types of Glomerulopathies.

INTRODUCTION: The term hypertensive nephrosclerosis has traditionally been used to describe a clinical syndrome characterized by long-term essential hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, minimal proteinuria, and progressive renal insufficiency. In the absence of renal biopsy, the diagnosis of hypertensive nephrosclerosis is one of exclusion. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 735 patients who had renal biopsies at Ain Shams University Hospitals between January 2008 and Dec 2010. The prevalence of vascular hypertensive changes was studied in relation to clinical presentation and the glomerular pathology pattern. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 1:1 and the mean age was 27±17 years. No vascular hypertensive changes were found in 44.5% of biopsies while mild, moderate and severe changes were found in 28%, 22% and 4.2% respectively. Malignant hypertensive changes were seen in 1.2% of biopsies. Lupus nephritis was the most common etiology representing 18.9% of all cases, followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (13.5%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (13.3%) and membranous glomerulonephritis (8.2%). Moderate to severe vascular hypertensive changes were more common in biopsies with FSGS compared to other glomerulopathies. Hypertensive nephrosclerosis as the sole cause of renal failure represented only 1.6% of cases. Significant associations were found between the degree of vascular hypertensive changes and the grade of hypertension. Patients with severe vascular hypertensive changes were significantly older and had significantly higher serum creatinine levels compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: History and grade of hypertension significantly influence the degree of vascular hypertensive changes in renal biopsy. Moderate to severe vascular hypertensive changes were more common in biopsies with FSGS compared to other pathologies. KEYWORDS: Hypertension; Nephroangiosclerosis; Renal Biopsies.